John Guise

Stephen Pokawin - 00:25:31

Interview: 
Stephen Pokawin
Time: 
00:25:31

Stephen Pokawin provides a first hand account of independence day, 16 September 1975 in Port Moresby, the electrifying atmosphere and the lasting impact of events.

Matilda Pilacapio - 00:31:42

Interview: 
Matilda Pilacapio
Time: 
00:31:42

Matilda Pilacapio discusses the presumption that Michael Somare would be prime minister in 1972, saying she rallied behind John Guise. She recalls that John Guise was probably the only one who could be governor general. She describes the balance of Papuans in the leadership positions.

Matilda Pilacapio - 00:28:21

Interview: 
Matilda Pilacapio
Time: 
00:28:21

Matilda Pilacapio recalls that during the 1968 election she voted for John Guise. She describes his leadership style as humble, eating brown rice and bully beef during his campaigning and travelling on the copra boats. She recalls that he would wear a t-shirt and brown khaki half-tone shorts and campaign on the beach. She states that in the house of assembly he would challenge anybody and recalls him taking on Bishop David Hand. She recalled that that Bishop Hand also wore khaki clothes, trying to look more like a patrol officer than a bishop.

Matilda Pilacapio - 00:21:23

Interview: 
Matilda Pilacapio
Time: 
00:21:23

Matilda Pilacapio discusses the church backgrounds of Papuan leaders and the importance of her own Anglican background.

Matilda Pilacapio - 00:05:23

Interview: 
Matilda Pilacapio
Time: 
00:05:23

Matilda Pilacapio recalls that it was at school that she first heard about independence. She recalls that at school she had pictorial education magazines from which she learnt about Africa. She states that her father was very political and listended regularly to radio and read newspapers and the Papuan Villager magazine.

Charles Lepani - 00:00:57

Interview: 
Charles Lepani
Time: 
00:00:57

Charles Lepani discusses his high school education at Charters Towers, Queensland, which he completed in 1966, and becoming part of the second intake in 1967 into the University of Papua New Guinea where he met good friends Rabbie Namaliu, Tony Siaguru, and Mekere Morauta. He discusses the group's growing awareness regarding Independence and well as the sense of political awareness in the first generation of political leaders including Michael Somare, John Guise and his father Lepani Watson.

Ted Diro - 00:34:47

Interview: 
Ted Diro
Time: 
00:34:47

Ted Diro outlines his thoughts about independence, saying it never occurred to him even at Sogeri. He states that he first became acquainted with the concept while serving in the military on the border in 1965 when John Guise and Pita Simogen arrived at the Vanimo station and said they were speading the message of independence. He states he did not know what independence meant and was ambivalent about it.

Michael Somare - 01:48:23

Interview: 
Michael Somare
Time: 
01:48:23

Michael Somare recalls the feelings around the country, including the Papua Besena movement, Josephine Abaijah and separation and the role of Albert Maori Kiki and Reuben Taureka and other Papuans and John Guise to win the hearts of people.

Michael Somare - 01:39:08

Interview: 
Michael Somare
Time: 
01:39:08

Michael Somare describes the excitement of 16 September 1975 and the ceremony and speeches by John Guise, Prince Charles and Gough Whitlam. He discusses the advice he got to keep the armed forces numbers low so as not to create a situation as occurred in Fiji with General Rambuka.

Michael Somare - 01:16:05

Interview: 
Michael Somare
Time: 
01:16:05

Michael Somare discusses the work of the CPC in every district and sub-district and his insistence on a multiparty rather than presidential system.

Syndicate content